Zell Miller announces he WON'T run for reelection in 2004

Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP ^ | 1.8.03

[mhking]

Zell Miller won't run for re-election to Senate

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Democratic Sen. Zell Miller, a popular former Georgia governor, announced Wednesday he won't seek re-election in 2004 -- a move that could complicate Democratic efforts to retake the Senate.

The surprise announcement came in a statement in which Miller explained he was making the announcement early so that others could prepare to run for the seat.

Miller had been retired from public life in the summer of 2000 when he was appointed to fill the Senate vacancy created by the death of Republican Sen. Paul Coverdell. Miller won a special election in November of that year to fill the remaining years of Coverdell's term, which concludes in 2004.

In his short time in the Senate, Miller made his mark on several key pieces of legislation -- often aligning himself with President Bush and against fellow Democrats. He was the Democratic sponsor of Bush's 10-year, $1.6 trillion tax cut and his Homeland Security Department, among other things.

Miller previously served two four-year terms as governor, where he was noted as one of Georgia's most savvy politicians. Among his greatest accomplishments was establishing the HOPE scholarships, which sent many Georgians to college tuition-free.

Speculation has been mounting about Miller's future plans, and some potential challengers reportedly stayed out of last year's race against Democratic Sen. Max Cleland, assuming that Miller would leave.

Then-Rep. Saxby Chambliss, a Republican, defeated Cleland, bumping Miller up to senior senator for a state known for long-serving senators such as Herman Talmadge, Richard Russell and Sam Nunn.

"I realize some will call me a 'lame duck,' Miller said in the statement. "But those who know me know I will be the 'same duck,' continuing to serve no single party but all the people of Georgia."

[KQQL]

Sorry but Johnny can't win the GOP nomination..REMEMBER SAXBY is not a MOderate.....sorry you are wrong about this...

LIKELY people to run for GOP nomination are

1)108th Congress opens Tuesday..... Special announcement from Congressman Kingston to be released today!

2)STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER: John Oxendine (R)*

3)BOB BArr

4)Nathan Deal

5) Johnny Isakson (R)*

[LdSentinal]

Good riddance.

Zell Miller has not apologized to the American people for helping Bill Clinton win the Georgia primary in 1992, resulting in 8 years of growth and prosperity for Bin Laden and al-Qaida, giving North Korea nuclear weapons, and many other horrendous crimes to this country.

[frnewsjunkie]

Linder was my representative. Barr never was. I wanted the "fighter" of the two. Just because I am so tired of Republicans rolling over so many times.

Below is an article from the Barr web page, before the election... on Linder's move.


BARR CAMPAIGN WELCOMES LINDER TO NEW HOME

"Linder is moving to Gwinnett this month to a subdivision off Sugarloaf Parkway, which would neutralize criticism that he doesn't even live in the district he wants to represent. He currently lives in Dunwoody, outside his old district." -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jan. 20, 2002.

DULUTH, GA -- The Barr-Congress campaign today congratulated Congressman John Linder on his reported decision to move into the Eleventh District (which Linder currently represents), after years as a resident of Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney's Fourth District.

"For someone who complains at every opportunity that any district including part of Gwinnett county is 'his,' John Linder sure has taken a long time deciding to actually live in the county. For years, he saw no problem with living outside of his district, but now that the voters have a real choice on the ballot, it has apparently become a pressing concern for him," said Barr spokesman Brad Alexander.

"While Mr. Linder's change of heart is sudden and his motives are questionable, we're glad to welcome him to the Seventh District nonetheless," Alexander continued.

This is not the first time Linder has made a last minute residency switch prior to an election. According to published reports, the DeKalb Congressman rented an apartment in Duluth in order to change his voting registration in 1992.

After the Seventh District was redrawn by Democrats last summer and their home carved out of the Seventh District, Bob and Jeri Barr moved into a new home near the center of the newly redrawn Seventh District. Despite Democrat efforts to draw him out of the Seventh District -- which he has represented for seven years -- Barr has voted in the Seventh District for that entire time, including a special election in Cherokee County as recently as last month.

[ambrose]

Bob Barr is too abrasive to win a statewide race.

[Guillermo]

I was for Linder. I liked Barr, but Linder was a better legislator. Linder will soon be chairman of Ways and Means (assuming the GOP keeps control of the House).

[Guillermo]

I was for Linder. I liked Barr, but Linder was a better legislator. Linder will soon be chairman of Ways and Means (assuming the GOP keeps control of the House).

[dixierose]

I'm with you!! Jack Kingston for Senate!! He is my representative (I survived redistricting...barely) and I absolutely love him. He's smart and has done a good job for us in South Georgia!!

[KQQL]

no kidding...bob barr will not win.......

[GraniteStateConservative]

Kingston is more photogenic. He's more polished as a speaker. Kingston's base of Savannah (Chatham County) is much more useful to the GOP than Collins' base of Hampton (Henry County)-- which is much more reliably Republican. Kingston has shown he can win with a decent-sized black constituency. Collins hasn't shown that ability. Kingston also has a better network for fundraising.

[shortstop]

86 posts and no one has mentioned Newt yet. How bout it!

[GraniteStateConservative]

Ooops. I was thinking of Isakson in that 1996 primary. Still, Isakson would have been a huge upgrade over Cleland.

[JohnnyZ]

Jack Kingston

Photogenic???

[GraniteStateConservative]

He tried for the senate nomination in 1996.

[RobFromGa]

ping for Zell Miller not running in 2004

[jriemer]

mhking,

Zell's main claim to fame - the Hope Scholorship - is projected to be in deficit spending by 2004 due to the downward spiral in GA lottery ticket receipts. Once college students stop receiving their tuition reimbursements, there will be hell to pay from the affected students and their parents.

Former Govenor Barnes fought to outlaw slot machines and digitial poker in GA in a special Legislative session two years ago (ususally associated with Congressional redistricting) because these two forms of gambling would be a direct competitor to the state Lottery. If slots and digital poker were legal, there would be even less money going into the soon-to-be-insolvent Hope program.

Zell knew that if the money ever ran out, so would a significant portion of his support from the "mushy middle". He's getting out while his "integrity is intact". [/contempt]

jriemer

[RobFromGa]

Prediction: John Linder will be the next Senator from Georgia.

[LdSentinal]

86 posts and no one has mentioned Newt yet. How bout it!

I would prefer a fresh face, but he's better than Barr.

[Guillermo]

He also tried for Gov in 94.

Rock the boat, rock the boat Johnny!

[Guillermo]

Thing is, Linder's in line for Chair of Ways & Means.

Will he give that up for a chance at the Senate?

[GraniteStateConservative]

Ummm, yes. He lost handily to Linder because he is a goofball. He didn't do much for the cause of RTKBA when he recklessly shot a loaded weapon in Bruce Widener's basement.